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Quill Hawk Publishing

The Beauty of Imperfection

The Beauty of Imperfection

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Material

In 1989 my husband Bill and I moved to a small town in France called La Varenne-Saint-Hilaire, a suburb southeast of Paris. Before leaving the States, Bill gifted me with a Nikon N2020 35mm film camera. We moved into a lovely home, three houses up from the Marne River that flows nearby. I loaded up my backpack with water, lots of film, and the desire to explore our new location. I spent hours in my darkroom developing my photos while Chewy, our cat, waited outside the door.

Living in France was truly magical. The things those old buildings have seen and heard. Too bad they can't talk. Getting lost was typically unfortunate for anyone but not for me in Paris. I wandered endlessly and stumbled upon something new every time. Maybe because I knew this was not our permanent home, it made every day much more special.

A feeling of awe would wash over me as I walked down an alleyway or some random cobblestone street as I let my mind wander and imagined some of the greatest minds ever had walked these same streets.

Of course, we explored the obligatory things one must see and do-Versailles, Provence, Chantilly, etc. But we also visited towns we had never heard of, or someone from work would tell us, "You must see this place," and off we'd go. Sometimes a coin had to be flipped to see if we went left or right. We were never disappointed. It was like discovering something new-the sights, smells, and sounds different from one another-a photographer's paradise.

Those were beautiful days that I would never forget; days spent exploring and appreciating the beauty of life all around me through my lens-capturing memories that will last forever in my mind's eye.

The photos in this book are just some of the stories I wanted to share. Maybe they'll remind you of vacations taken, that first kiss, or when you walked down those same cobblestone streets or watched the sunset while drinking an espresso at a sidewalk cafe. Perhaps they'll inspire you to get out more and explore the world around you.

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Product Details

E-books

  • ASIN:B0C9SG1NY2
  • Publisher: Quill Hawk Publishing
  • Publication Date: 2023-07-20
  • Language: English
  • File size: n/a
  • Text-to-Speech: n/a
  • Screen Reader: n/a
  • Enhanced typesetting: n/a
  • X-Ray: n/a
  • Word Wise: n/a
  • Print Length: 70
  • Lending: n/a

Hardcover

  • Publisher: Quill Hawk Publishing
  • Publication Date: 2023-07-20
  • Language: English
  • Pages: 70
  • ISBN-10: n/a
  • ISBN-13: 979-8986910253
  • Item Weight: 1.15 pounds
  • Dimension: 11 x 0.31 x 8.5 inches

Paperback

  • Publisher: Quill Hawk Publishing
  • Publication Date: 2023-07-20
  • Language: English
  • Pages: 70
  • ISBN-10: n/a
  • ISBN-13: 979-8985090529
  • Item Weight: 8.8 ounces
  • Dimension: 11 x 0.18 x 8.5 inches

About The Author

Cathy Waite-Gorgensen author

Cathy Waite-Gorgensen

Ever since Cathy Waite-Gorgensen got her first “Real Camera,” she has been passionate about photography, and her life’s journey after that moment has offered her countless opportunities to follow that passion.Relocating to France in 1989, Cathy took her bottle of water, a map of the Metro Underground, and her camera and set off to explore the Eternal City and the surrounding towns through her lens. It was there she fell in love with architecture, both modern and not-so-modern. Eventually, she sought to refine her skills by studying photography and printing at the Parsons School of Design in Paris, on and off, for several years.In 2001, Cathy moved to Northern Germany, where she continued her passion. A different region brought different challenges, but she continued her joy in photographing architecture, life, and nature.Cathy has brought those skills and passions back to the U.S. to focus on nature and life with her husband and two cats.Cathy is also discovering new levels of passion, channeled into about others. She completes her life’s call by helping empower disadvantaged youth worldwide to find their voice through the Toastmasters International Youth Program, Speechcraft, and as a founding member of the Storm Foundation. This organization empowers those recently released from incarceration and dealing with substance abuse and mental illness.

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